Method of making sheet-metal radiators.



O. S. BEYER. METHOD OF MAKING SHEET METAL RADIATORS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28. 1910.

Patented Feb. 20, 1912 3 SHEETSSHEET 1 0. s. BBYER.

METHOD OF MAKING SHEET METAL RADIATORS APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, 1910.

1,018,156. Patented Feb.'20,1912.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

iii E O.- S. BEYER.

' METHOD OF MAKING 'SHEET METAL RADIATOBS.

1,018,156. APPLIOATION FILED MAYIZB, 1910." Patented Feb. 20

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Z a- 9 I UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIoE.

OTTO S. BEYER, OF HYDE PARK, MASSACHUSETTS. ASSIGNOR TO B. F. STURTEVANTI COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS,

Av CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

METHOD OF MAKING SHEET-METAL RADIATORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

Application filed May 28, 1910. Serial No. 563,849.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, OTTO S. BEYER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hyde Park, in the county of Norfolk and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMethods of Making Sheet-\1etal Radiators; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

The invention relates to method of making sheet metal radiators orradiator sections.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved and novel radiatorwhich may be conveniently and economically manufao tured fromcomparatively thin sheet metal, and which will be durable and not liableto become defective or leaky under long continued use.

To these ends the invention consists in the features hereinafterdescribed and set forth in the claims, the advantages of which will beobvious to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription.

The various features of the invention will be readily understood from aninspection of the accompanying drawings, and the following detailed'description of the radiator shown therein and of the'method of makingthe same.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side view of I a preferred form ofradiator made in accordance' with the present invention; Fig. 2'

is a side edge view of the radiator; Fig. 3 is a vertical section online 33, Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the radiator Fig. 5 is asectional view on line 5-5, Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a view showing one side ofthe sheet metal plate from which the radiator is formed after it hasbeen bent and shaped preparatory to folding it; Fig. 7 is an edge viewof the plate after the folding has been partially completed; Fig. 8 isan edge view after the I folding has been completed to bring themarginal flanges together and before the marginal portions of the platebetween the fold lines have been brought together; Fig; 9 is a similarview after the marginal portions of the plate between the fold lineshave been closed together; Fig. 10 is an enlarged view showing a part ofthe central portion of the plate shown in Fig. 6 after it has beenpartially bent and shaped; Fig. 11 is a seccenter and may be formed;Fig. 15 is a view similar to, i I

Fig. 10, showing a part of the central portion of the plate after thebending and shaping has been completed, preparatory to the folding ofthe plate; Fig. 16 is a sectional view" on a line corresponding. to16-16, Fig. 10, showing the plate in position between the dies whichrebend the central portion of the plate into the form shown in Fig. 15before the dies have acted on the plate; Fig. 17 is a sectional view online 17-17, Fig. 15, showing the plate and rebending dies in section;Fig. 18 is a similar. view on line 18-18, Fig. 15; and Fig. 19 is asimilar view on line 19-19, Fig. 15.

In accordance with the present invention the radiator is formed bybending and fold-" ing a single sheet metal plate, and securing togetherthe contacting faces of the two end sections of the plate after it hasbeen folded.

shown inthe drawings the sheet metal plate 1 (Fig. 6)' is bent andshaped by suit- :able dies to form a transverse depression 2 whichextends across thev central portion of the plate. This depression is sosha ed that it is provided with two parallel f dld lines 3 which extendtransversely across the plate at equal distances from the center of theplate. The transverse depression is provided with one or more ports 4between the fold lines, there being two of such ports in the specificembodiment of the invention illustrated. The bottom of the transversedepression is so shaped that it-increases in .depth toward the ports ineither direction. In the embodiment shown the bottom of the depressionis of less depth at its ends and gradually increases in depth until itintersects the port. The bottom of the depression is also substantiallflat at its ends and center, and slopes om the fold lines toward thecenter. The fold lines therefore are straight and lie in the same planeas the bottom of the transverse de- Y pression at its ends and center.The plate is also bent by suitable dies to form semitubular depressions5 which extend from the cated that intermediate fiat surfaces 8 and 9are formed between the depressions extending in lines at right angles'tothe transverse depression 2. The surface of the plate slopes from theflat surfaces 8 toward the fold lines, as indicated at 10. The plate isalso bent to form transverse semi-tubular depressions 11 connecting thetubular depressions 7 and 5, and dividing the flat surfaces 8 and theupper portion of the flat :surfaces 9, into small rectangular spots.

After the plate has been thus bent and .shaped by the dies in a mannerwhich will be hereinafter more fully explained, the plate is foldedalong the two fold lines 3, as indicated in Figs. 7 and 8, to bring themarginal flanges 6 and flat surfaces 8 and 9 into contact with eachother. When the plates have been thus folded, a hollow plate or radiatorsection is formed which is completely closed except at the ports 4 andat .the ends of the fold lines. At the ends of the fold lines there willbe on each side of the radiator section a triangular opening 12, asindicated in Fig. 8. These openings are closed by forcing together themarginal portions of the plate between the fold lines, as indicated inFig. 9. Ihe marginal flanges and the contacting spots or surfaces 8 and9 are then secured together as by electric welding, riveting, or in anysuitable manner.

In case the inlet and outlet ports for the radiator are both formed inthe transverse depression 2 which becomes the bottom of the completedradiator, it is preferred to form the continuous fiat surfaces 9 aboutmidway of the plate, and to close together the surfaces of the plate atthe inner ends of the surfaces 9 after the plate has been folded. Afterthe plate has been folded there will be a small triangular openingsimilar to the opening 12 at the inner ends of the surfaces 9, and thismay be closed in the same manner that the openings '12 are closed. Bythis construction the steam or other heatlng' fluid is compelled to flowup one side of the contacting surfaces 9 to the depressions 11 at theupper ends of the surfaces 9, and down the other side. By-forming thetransverse depression 2 so that its depth increases toward the ports,any water which may collect in the radiator will flow away from thejoints and toward the ports.

There will be no collection of moisture, I

therefore, in any of the joints, and no danger of corrosion and rapidwearing and eating away of the metal.

Inbendingand shaping the sheet metal plate to form the centraltransverse depression with parallel fold lines, as above described, itis preferred to first bend theplate to form a central transversedepression of substantially uniform depth and having a substantiallyflat bottom, and to then rebend the depressed central portion of theplate to form the fold lines and give it the shape above referred to.The preferred method of bending and shaping the plate is illustrated inFigs. 10 to 18. In accordance with the method here illustrated, thesheet metal plate is first subjected to the action of the ending dies 18and 14: which form the transverse depression 2 and the semi-tubulardepressions 5, 7 and 11. The'transverse depression 2 is formed by abending rib 15 on the male die 13 constructed to enter a transversegroove 16 in the female die, and to bend the plate over the shoulders 17at the ends and center of the groove, and over the bending shoulders 18at points intermediate the ends and center. The female die is providedwith ribs 19 and intermediate depressions 20, while the male die isprovided with bending ribs 21 registering with the depressions 20. Theribs19'are provided with transverse depressions 22 which register withtransverse bending ribs 23 on the male die. The ribs 19 and 21 cooperatein bending the plate to form the semi-tubular depressions 5 and 7, andthe bending ribs 23 cooperate with the depressions 22 in forming thetransverse tubular depressions 11. The dies are so shaped that themarginal flanges 6 and the flat surfaces 8 and 9 are in the same plane.It is also preferred to so shape the dies that the transverse depression.2 is slightly greater in depth than the depth of the semi-tubulardepressions 5 and 7, as indicated by the dotted lines in Figs. 11, 12and 13. In forming the transverse depression 2 in the manner described,there is practically no stretching and thinning of the metal at thecentral ortion of the plate where the transverse epression is formed.After the transverse depression 2' has thus been formed the centralportion of the plate;

is subjected to the action of rebending dies which rebend the centralportion to give the transverse depression the shape already describedwith reference to Fig. 6, and which is also shown in Fig. 15. Duringthis reshaping of the central depressed portion of the plate thesections of the plate on the op-' posite sides of the central portionare preferably held by clamping plates which are shaped to fit theopposite sides of the plate. The rebending dies are so shaped that theyrebend the central depressed'portion of the plate to form the straighttransverse fold lines, and to give the bottom of the depression the formalready described, without stretching or thinning the metal.- By thus 5forming the transverse depression, and then rebending it to give it itsfinal shape, the full thickness and strength of the .sheet metal plateare preserved at the bottom of the finished radiator, where thicknessand strength are the most desired, and a thinner plate may therefore beutilized in making I the radiator than would otherwise be practicable.

The clamping plates for holding the sheet metal plate during therebending of the central portion may be conveniently formed by using aplate after it has been bent into the shape indicated in Fig. 10 as apattern for casting the twoclamping plates 24 and 25, as indicated inFig. 14, and then removing the central portion of the clamping plates,as indicated in dotted lines in this figure. The rebending dies 26 and27 are arplates 24 and 25, as indicated in Figs- 16 to 18. In order thatthe clamping plates may engage and clamp the sheet metal plate beforethe rebending dies act to rebend the central port-ion of the plate,the'clamping plates 25 are supported upon springs 28. The rebending diesare so shaped that in rebending the central portion of the sheet metalplate they bring the bottom of the depression at its ends and centerinto the same plane as the bottoms of the semi-tubular depressions 5 and7, form cylindrical projections 29 for the ports 4, form the straightparallel fold lines 3 which lie in the same plane as the bottoms of thedepressions 5 and 7, and shape the metal between the fold lines so thatthe bottom of the transverse depression gradually increases in depthfrom the ends and center of the transverse depression toward the ports.In rebending the central depressed portion of the plate the extra metalbetween the fold lines and the ends of the clamping plates 24 and 25forms the curved bulges 30 which are the most pronounced at the pointswhere the transverse depression is of the least depth and graduallydisappear toward the points where the depth of the transverse depressionis the greatest. The formation of these bul es is merely incidental toproviding s cient able the rebending at the point where the depression 2is the'deepest without stretching and thinning the metal at this point.After the plate has been acted upon by the rebending dies, the portprojections 29 are pierced, and themetal bent outward to form thenipples 31. Sleeves ormunions'may be brazed or otherwise secured tothese nipples, so that the supply and exhaust pipes may be convenientlyconnected to the radiator.

ranged between the sections of the clamping metal in the transversedepression 2 to en-' While a construction has been shown and describedin which both the supply and exhaust ports are forme in the bottom ofthe radiator, and the radiator is divided into two sections bycontacting surfaces 9 which extend from the bottom nearly to the'top ofthe radiator, it will be understood that this construction is notessential, and that if found desirable one of the ports may be otherwiselocated, and the dividing contacting surfaces omitted. It will also beunderstoodthat the specific construction of the radiator, and thespecific manner in which the bending is done, is not material except sofar as it is set forth in the claims,

and may be varied without departing from the broader features of theinvention.

Having explained the nature and object of the invention, andspecifically described one embodiment thereof, what Iclaim is 1. Themethod of making sheet metal radiators consisting in bending a sheetmetal plate to form a central transverse depression provided withparallel fold lines,

with one or more ports between the fold lines, and with its bottombetween the fold lines increasing in depth toward the ports in eitherdirection, and to form marginal flanges and marginal semi-tubular depressions extending from the ends of the transverse depression, andsemi-tubular depressions extending from the transverse depression to theparallel marginal depressions, folding'the plate on the fold. lines tobring the marginal flanges together, closing together the marginalportions of the plate between the fold lines, and securingthecontact-ing surfaces of the stantially as described.

2. The method of making sheet metal radiators consisting in bending asheet metal plate; to form a central transverse flat-bottom depressionof substantially uniform depth, marginal fiangesjand marginalsemi-tubular depressions extending from plate together, sub- -the endsof the transverse depression and semi-tubular depressions extending fromthe transverse depression to the parallel marginal depressions,rebending the. depressed central portion of the plate to form transverseparallel fold lines, and one or more ports between the fold lines, andto graduallyincrease the depth of the transverse depressiongtoward' theport or ports in either direction, folding the plate on the fold linesto bring themarginal flanges together, closing together the marginalportions of the plate between the fold lines, and securing thecont-acting surfaces of the plate together, substantially as described.

3. The method of making sheet metal radiators consisting in bending asheet metal plate to form a transverse depression provided with arallelfold lines with one or more ,ports etween the fold linesand with" its.bottom between the fold lines increasing in depth toward the port orports in either direct-ion, and to term marginal flanges andsemi-tubular depressions extending at substantially right. angles fromthe transverse depression, and to form transverse depressions betweensaid semitubular depressions, folding the plate on the fold lines tobring the marginal flanges together, closing together the marginalportions of the plate between the fold lines, and securing thecontacting surfaces of the plate together, substantially as described.

4. The method of making sheet metal radiators consisting in bending asheet metal plate to form a Central transverse depression ofsubstantially uniform depth and to form marginal flanges and semitubulardepressions extending at substantially right angles from the-transversedepression and transverse depressions connecting said semi-tubulardepressions, rebending the depressed central portion of the plate toform transverse parallel told lines and one or more ports between thefold lines and to gradually increase the depth of the 1 transversedepression toward the port or ports in either direction, folding theplate on the told lines to bring the marginal intense flanges together,closing together the marginal portions of the plate between the foldlines, and securing the contacting surfaces of the plate together,substantially as described.

5. The method of making sheet metal radiators consisting in bending asheet metal plate to form a transverse depression provided with parallelfold lines with one or more ports between the fold lines and with itsbottom between the fold lines increasing in depth toward the port orports in either direction and to form marginal flanges and semi-tubulardepressions intersecting the transverse depression and separated by flatsurfaces in the plane of the marginal flanges and to form transverse de'pressions connecting the semi-tubular depressions, folding the plate onthe fold lines to bring the marginal flanges and flat surfaces together,closing together the marginal portions of the plate between the foldlines, and securing the contacting surfaces of the plate together,substantially as de- 1 scribed.

UTTQ Sn BEYER. Witnesses:

E. B PELLMAN, lf. lHLnRLAN.

